Textile and Apparel Industries

Exploration of Knowledge Creation Processes and Work Environments in the Wearable Technology Industry

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Abstract

Wearable technology (WT) emerged to meet the demands of people who want access to information when they are not in a fixed place but on the move. There is no clear definition of WT in the literature. WT is often replaced by terms such as wearable computers, smart clothing, gadgets, wearables, and so on. According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary (1993), ‘wearable’ refers to anything that is capable of being worn, and one of the definitions of ‘technology’ refers to a piece of equipment or machine. Therefore, one may say WT is a mechanical and technological device that can be worn by humans. However, we know little about what WT means to those who are engaged in WT development and how critical collaborations take place in the fast-changing WT industry. Consequently, the objectives of this research were to explore: (a) the definition of WT and (b) knowledge creation processes and work environments described by WT professionals.

How to Cite:

Raj, D. & Ha-Brookshire, J. E., (2015) “Exploration of Knowledge Creation Processes and Work Environments in the Wearable Technology Industry”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 72(1).